Shelby Paint and Decorating Holds Latex Paint Recycling Event

Name: Shelby Paint and Decorating President Brain Eisbrenner.

Green Dream: Not only does Eisbrenner dream of helping local residents properly dispose of unwanted cans of latex paint, he has made it a reality.

Shelby Paint and Decorating is holding a one-day latex paint recycling event April 23 at its three store locations in Shelby Township, Rochester Hills and Grosse Pointe Woods in honor of Earth Day.

The paint can be dropped off from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at any of the following Shelby Paint and Decorating locations:

•  Shelby - 47221 Van Dyke, Shelby Township, (586) 739-0240

• Rochester Hills, 109 S. Livernois, Rochester Hills, (248) 651-1440

• Grosse Pointe Woods, 20481 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Woods, (313) 881-0344

Eisbrenner has teamed up with Ecowise, an Ohio-based latex recycling company, that will blend the paint so it can be reused and donated to local charities, or repurposed to make paintbrush handles.

During the event, area residents can recycle their old latex paint for a $5 fee per gallon, and receive a $5 coupon good towards a gallon of premium eco-friendly Benjamin Moore paint at Shelby Paint and Decorating.

Eisbrenner said the idea came to him because there is always left over paint in the basement of any home he has ever bought. Latex paint has a shelf life of 7 to 10 years.

Ninety percent of the paint sold at Shelby Paint and Decorating is latex-based, and the other 10 percent is oil-based paint. Both are hazardous in the liquid form and emit VOCs, which is a chemical that can have long-term and short-term adverse health effects. 

The Shelby Paint and Decorating event on April 23 is only accepting latex paint, but oil-based paint can be disposed of April 30 during the at the Shelby Township Municipal Grounds at 52700 Van Dyke, east side of Van Dyke, south of 24 Mile.

Eisbrenner said the worst thing that can happen to old paint is that it ends up in a landfill and then leak into the earth, poisoning the local lakes and streams.

Green Goal: Eisbrenner said he would like to see better nationwide management of leftover paint by having a daily and consistent recyclable paint program, not just at his store, but every paint store in the nation.